An already-scheduled program about gun safety went ahead as planned at a local school on Monday.

Kay Gresham and other school officials with the Thompson Early Childhood Center had scheduled “Eddie Eagle” from the National Rifle Association program to come to the school and talk to the students about gun safety and what to do if they find a gun.

“We have television, movies and video games that are so violent,” Gresham said. “Children of this age do not realize the finality of death because when they see someone die on television, they see them in another program the next week. They just don’t really understand it yet.”

Officer Daisy Haywood, known as Officer Friendly to the TECC kids, of the Jacksonville Police Department, comes in once a month to teach different characteristics, according to James Lanier of TECC.

This month’s characteristic is responsibility, so Gresham worked with JPD to get the program to her school. The program was scheduled in November.

When the lesson began, Haywood asked the group of 3-year-olds if any of them thought it was OK to play with guns. Several in the group raised their hands.

“Guns aren’t toys, and shouldn’t be touched by girls or boys,” said the message of a cartoon featuring Eddie Eagle.

Haywood, along with Eddie Eagle, worked through song and dance to teach children what to do if they encounter a gun.

“Stop, don’t touch, leave the area and tell an adult. Those are the four steps,” Haywood explained. “This is a simple, straightforward lesson explaining gun safety.”

Haywood said it is important because there have been two young children die while handling guns in Carteret and Onslow County in the last year or so.

She said the program, which is provided free to law enforcement, is a nice way to give the kids safety tips that they will remember through repetition.

“If you repeat it, it becomes second nature,” she said.

Gresham said that the main thought when it comes to this gun safety program is that any prevention the school can do, they should do.

“We are hoping that if a child sees a gun anywhere after this, they will know what to do,” she said.

Contact Daily News Reporter Tabitha Clark at 910-219-8454 or Tabitha.Clark@jdnews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @TabithaLClark or friend her on Facebook.